Deep Well WMA: hunting, rules and access
Deep Well WMA is 238 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 4 miles south of Phillips, in Hamilton County and the Buffalo deer unit. Atlas note: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landNational wildlife refuge or WPAOpen Fields and WatersDeep Well WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 238 (Game and Parks); 238 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SW, map sheet 31 & 37 |
| Atlas marks | Nontoxic shot only |
| County | Hamilton |
| Deer unit | Buffalo |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1998 |
What are the rules on Deep Well WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period. The atlas marks it nontoxic shot only.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 119).
Which deer unit is Deep Well WMA in?
The Buffalo deer unit, 4,996 square miles, with 2,363 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Buffalo unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Buffalo unit in 2026: Buffalo 800 (1 AD2, sold out July 11 in 2025) and Buffalo WT 1,200 (1 WT, sold out Oct. 5 in 2025) (Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Guide, page 13).
Harvest: Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Recommendations.
What public and walk-in land is near Deep Well WMA?
Within five miles: 630 acres of national wildlife refuge or WPA and 238 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Cornhusker WMA (12.2 mi) and Pintail WMA (13.3 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
How do you get to Deep Well WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80, US 34 and N-2.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips | 4 | north |
| Giltner | 5 | southeast |
| Grand Island | 9 | northwest |
| Doniphan | 9 | southwest |
| Aurora | 10 | east |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on Deep Well WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period.
Where is Deep Well WMA?
Its middle is about 4 miles south of Phillips, in Hamilton County and the Buffalo deer unit.
How big is Deep Well WMA?
238 acres by Game and Parks' count; 238 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map.
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Sources: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas; Game and Parks properties (WMAs, recreation areas, parks); USGS PAD-US 4.1; Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027; Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Recommendations. General WMA rules: all WMAs. FilledTag is not part of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.